Customer Reviews

Sullivan Years: Mod Sound

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When CBS-TV cancelled the Ed Sullivan Show in 1971, the program's long-time host remarked that "Vaudeville has died its second death." So true.

Viewers who joined Ed on Sunday nights were treated to the best musicians and singers, as well as a never-ending variety of dancers, animal acts, tumblers, magicians, spinners, puppets, novelty performers, stand-up comics and scenes from current stage shows. A single hour of Sullivan was indeed like watching a full vaudeville bill.

THE SULLIVAN YEARS series features highlights from every era and genre. All CDs come with booklets containing photos and show details.


"The Mod Sound" offers clear dubs of performances that are live, prerecorded and a mixture of the two:

MAMAS & PAPAS - Track #1 sounds live, #2 is TV show vocal over an edited studio track, #3 has live voices and studio track augmented by the Sullivan orchestra. FRIENDS are live. 5TH DIMENSION sing over studio track on #5, #6 is live, #7 is primarily canned, #8 is live group and Sullivan band. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD is live, LULU vocalizes with the Sullivan unit as do THE SEEKERS and PETULA CLARK. SPANKY & OUR GANG sing above studio tracks augmented by a few live musicians-- "Lazy Day" is significanly shortened. JACKIE DE SHANNON struggles with a mediocre backup and severe editing of her hit song.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 53:34

AIRDATES:
(6/11/67) Mamas & Papas - Creeque Alley
(5/24/67) Mamas & Papas - California Dreamin'
(12/31/67) Mamas & Papas - Words of Love
(12/27/70) Friends of Distinction - Grazing in the Grass
(5/19/68) 5th Dimension - Stoned Soul Picnic
(3/21/67) 5th Dimension - One Less Bell to Answer
(5/18/69) 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
(12/7/69) 5th Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues
(11/24/68) Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
(10/22/67) Lulu - To Sir, With Love
(5/21/67) The Seekers - Georgy Girl
(3/14/65) Petula Clark - Downtown
(3/14/65) - I Know a Place
(6/18/67) Spanky & Our Gang - Sunday Will Never be the Same
(12/17/67) Spanky & Our Gang - Lazy Day
(3/24/68) Spanky & Our Gang - Like to Get to Know You
(2/1/70) Jackie De Shannon - Put a Little Love in Your Heart


On THE SULLIVAN YEARS: BORN TO BE WILD, the harder edge of late-60s Top 40 rock is showcased.

I bought this because it had " To Sir with Love" and "Put a little love in your heart. I acquired this before technology changed and now you can just download singles via MP3's. This is a nice compilation of predominately female singers from the 1960's

This is perhaps the best CD released from the legendary Ed Sullivan Show with some of the best pop acts of the 60's represented like the Mamas and the Papas, the 5th Dimension, Petula Clark, Spanky and Our Gang and others. It's like a who's who of some of the best female pop vocalists of the mid-60's like Mama Cass, Marilyn McCoo, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Elaine "Spanky" MacFarland, LuLu and Jackie DeShannon.

My favorite track of all is the live version of "Words of Love" from the Mamas and Papas first appearance on the Sullivan show on December 11, 1966 when they were at the height of their popularity. The group is in fine form singing live over the studio instrumental track augmented with the Sullivan orchestra. Mama Cass belts out the song like Ethel Merman and shows why she was one of the best singers of all time. Another highlight is a totally live version of the 5th Dimension's "One Less Bell to Answer" featuring the beautiful voice of lead singer Marilyn McCoo.

This is must-have collection for any fan of 60's pop divas!